Wire-stretcher.



'No. 655,989. Patented Apg. l4, I900.

J. PEOPLES. v WIRE STRETCHER.

A p'umcion filed Mar. 31; 1900., (No Model.)

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0 Hot nu m: mums Farms co, PHcrmJ-mc, WASHINGTON. n cy INITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JETHERO PEOPLES, or BYERS, KANSAS.

WIRE-STRETCHERL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,989, dated August 14, 1900. Application filed March 31, 1900. Serial No- 10,917. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JETHERO PEOPLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Byers, in the county of Meade and State of Kansas, have invented'certa'in new and usefulImprovements in Wire-Stretchers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and,

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to improvements in wire-stretchers which may be used for stretching wires in the erection of a fence or for taking up the slack or sag in wires of the fences now in use.

The object of the invention is to provide a wire-stretcher which shall be simple in construction, durable in use, comparatively inexpensive in production, and efficient in operation.

To these ends the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention,

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved wire-stretcher, and Fig. 2 is a top plan View.

In the drawings, 1 denotes a fence-post, and

2 the wire to be stretched.

My improved wire-stretcher comprises a ratchet-bar 3, the forward end of which is provided with a bail orloop 3 to engage the wire and support that end of the bar, and the rear end of which is provided with an upwardly-proj ectin g post 3*, to which is pivoted the head 4. of a wire-clamp 5, which clamp may be of any well-known or approved construction. The ratchets of said bar are arranged upon its upper and lower sides, and

the ratchets of one set alternate with those of the other set.

6 denotes a forked operating-lever, to and between the arms of which are pivoted pawls 7 to engage the upper and lower ratchets. To

the upper end of the lever is pivoted a head 8, which supports awire clamp 9, which may be of a'ny'well-known or approved construction.

1O denotes a chain for connecting the ratchet-bar to the fence-post. V

In operation after the stretcher has been connected to the post by the chain the free end of the wire is passed through the wireclamps 5 and 9.] Now by reciprocating the lower end of the lever the pawls will cause the lever, with its clamp 9, to be moved rearwardly along the ratchet-bar, thus stretching the wire. If it be desired to get a fresh hold on the wire to further stretch it, the clamp 5 is locked to the wire and the clamp 9 disengaged from the wire. The lever may now be moved forward upon the ratchet-bar and the clamp 9, carried thereby, be clamped to the wire. Then by repeating the operation the leverwill be fed to the rear end of the ratchetbar. After the wire has been stretched it may be secured to the post in the usual manner that is, by staples.

The purpose of pivoting the block 4 is to compensate for any swing that may occur in the operation of the device laterally to the line of draft, so as to relieve the stretcher and wire of overstrain due to unskilled or rough manipulation of the stretcher.

From the foregoing description, taken in 1 connection with the accompanying drawings,

the construction, operation, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood without requiring an extended explanation.

The stretcher is simple in construction and composed of but few parts, thus reducing to a minimum the liability of its getting out of order.

, Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A wire-stretcher, comprising .a horizontal ratchet-bar provided with alternating series Tot-teeth and a supporting-arm at one end thereof, a pivoted bail or loop upon the opposite end of the bar to engage the wire and support the bar, a lever extending vertically and having its upper end forked and projecting above and straddling said bar, pawls pivoted between the fork members of the lever and adapted to engage the respective ratchet-s, a head pivoted to swing vertically in the fork of the lever above the upper pawl and carrying a clamp, a head mounted horizontally upon said end-supporting arm of the ratchet-bar and pivoted to swing in a horizontal plane laterally of the bar and provided with a clamp, and a chain or analogous connection for adj ustably connecting the ratchetbar to a fence-post at a point adjacent to said bail or loop, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J ETI'IERO PEOPLES.

' Witnesses: LoUIs BOEHLER,

F. M. RosENBERRY. 

